MT. BELUKHA CLIMB (Belukha peak 4506m) Siberia.

Arrival in Barnaul in the morning and a long drive (750 km, 12-13hr) to the Vysotnik Base (850m) in the village of Tyungur. A couple of stops at road cafes will be organized. In Base accommodation in stationary tents. Base.

Day 2

Today we put everything we will not need on the trek-climb in the left luggage and walk from the Vysotnik to the Akkem Refuge (1950m) under Belukha. The way is via Kucherla village and the Kuzuyak pass (1 513 m), a good path in the forest all the way (mushrooms and berries are abundant). In 4-5hr we come to the camp site called “Three birches” and pitch our tents. 17km. Camp. An option is to raft down to the mouth of the Akkem river.

Day 3

We walk further, from «Three birches» to the Akkem Refuge in the Akkem valley. Well known Akkem lake with Belukha mirrored in it is 1.5km up the valley. 7-8km, 22km. Accommodation in stationary tents for four. Refuge.

Day 4

We walk to the first camp in the mountains, «Tomskie Nochevki» (3 000 m) above the Akkem glacier on the moraine. A long ascent up the moraine or right up the glacier. The summits, East Belukha (4 506 m) and West Belukha (4 400 m) are seem from here. Camp. 7-8hr, 17 km.

Day 5

This day we spend on training on ice and snow on the glacier, practice in cramponning, roping up. Weather permitting, we climb to under the Delone pass (3 400 m) and return to our camp. Camp.

Day 6

Early start. We move from Tomskie Nochevki via Delone Shoulder (near the Delone pass, 3 400 m), over the pass itself to the plateau (3 800 m). The Delone pass is from 35° to 45° snow and ice slope, 300 m long (5-6 fixed ropes). We move over the glacier and pitch an assault camp on the plateau. Camp on the glacier. 7-8 hr, 7 km.

Day 7

Summit attempt. We start at 5 am, the guides fix six ropes to the ridge, we follow them (40°- 45°, 250m) to the pass, follow along the gentle ridge (250 m) and in 15-20min come to the summit (4506m). Descent to the glacier. 8-9 hr. Camp on glacier.

Day 8

Reserve day in case of bad weather. Camp on glacier.

Day 9

Roped descent down to Tomskie Nochevki and from there to the luxury of the Akkem Refuge (sessions of sauna). Refuge. 7-9hr, 17 km.

Day 10

We walk down to the Vysotnik Base. It is possible to do it in one day if need be, but we walk for two (so that one of these days work as a reserve). 5-6hr per day, 39 km.

Day 11

We walk down to the Vysotnik Base. It is possible to do it in one day if need be, but we walk for two (so that one of these days work as a reserve). 5-6hr per day, 39 km.

Day 12

Drive to the city of Barnaul, 12-13hr. 750 km. Hotel accommodation.

Price includes

Included in price: - Accommodation in stationary tents for 3 at Vysotnik and Ak-Kem bases (tents for 4); - Meals. Full board from supper of Day 1 to breakfast of Day 12; - Sauna: one session in each base; - Trekking guide and mountain guides for the days of climbing (1 guide to 5 clients clients plus one guide-assistant); - Group equipment (gas-stoves, ropes, tents, cooking pots etc); - All permits and registrations; - Visa support

Price does not include

- Transfers by bus Barnaul – Tiungur – Barnaul with English speaking attendant – USD 120 p/per; - Extra long sauna session in Vysotnik - 48 USD per group 1-10, per hour; - Extra brief sauna session in Vysotnik - 30 USD per group 1-5, per hour; - Extra sauna at Ak-kem base – 40 USD per group 1-6, per hour; - Horses for the luggage transportation (from 30 USD p/horse p/day); - Rafting on Katun River to the mouth of Ak-kem River (18 km, 2 hr) – 160 USD per group up to 10; - Truck on Day 11 from under the Kyzuyak pass; - Supplement for accommodation in a house in Vysotnik; - Meals in Barnaul and on both the ways Barnaul - Tyungur and Tyungur - Barnaul; - Hotel in Barnaul (from 30 USD per person); - Transfer Hotel - Airport in Barnaul – from 15 USD per person

Belukha (4506m), an extremely beautiful, shapely snow peak in Altai Mountains (South Siberia, Russia) is one of the very few peaks of the globe veiled with mystery and a touch of mysticism. Until now the Akkem valley is the Mecca for the worshipper of the famous Russian painter and mystic Nicholas Roerich (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_Roerich) who held the place as one of the sacred “Centers of Energy” on Earth. A visit here is a must for them. Belucha has always been one of the climbing magnets in the former USSR (together with Elbrus and Kazbek in Caucasus and Klyuchevskoi volcano in Kamchatka)

The approaches are two days of easy trekking supported with horses carrying all the group gear plus food and fuel for camping. The clients, who have not opted for renting a horse, will carry their own belongings (we advise to sort these carefully and take only the absolutely necessary). The landscapes are varied (delicious South Siberia forests) and the climb itself, even though demands a reasonably good physical form, will not present any problems even for novices in climbing: all the “technical” places will be provided with fixed ropes.

There are some days of moderate and strenuous hiking by varied landscapes and some days of mountain climbing which require good physical condition and mountaineering skills (using ropes, crampons, etc.). Mt. Belukha climb is of 3A rate (In Russian climbing route rating system the overall grade of a route is defined within a scale of 1 to 6, with subdivisions A and B). Maximum altitude drop is 1000 m a day. The trekkers carry both all their personal belongings, 6-7 kg of complete set of communal equipment (tents, cooking pots, gas) and food for 2 days. You can also hire pack horses for the luggage transportation.

Tips guidelines (important information!)

You entrust your life, health, your time and money to the guides. And the guides take this responsibility for you and for the success of the whole trip. They are doing this 24 hours.
10-20 USD per day is expected as the normal amount of tips for the Guides and the staff of the program. If you liked everything about the trip, please don't forget to thank them. You can give the tips directly to the Main Guide and he will distribute it among the staff.

Meals

We provides the participants with 3 meals a day. At the base camps meals are at a cafe. On the trek the food is cooked on the open fire, on the ascent on gas by tourists themselves. Food issued, also we provides vegetarian meals.

Extra expenses

- accommodation in houses in Vysotnik – USD 10 p/per/night

1) Our guides are highly experience with guide work on many serious climbs all over the world.

2) We have the biggest record of orginizing many commertial technical and altitude expeditions.